Controlling mechanism



1936- D. D. JACKSON ET AL 2,062,716

CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 4, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

3 a kt'a D. Jack so/z A TTORNEYS.

' Patented Dec. 1, 1936 CONTROLLING MECHANISM David D. Jackson, Providence, R. 1., and Erwin: W. Teiit, South Attleboro, Mass.

Application December 4, 1933, Serial No. 700,818

10 Claims. (Cl. 236-76) Cir This invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a plurality of factors which have to do with bringing about the desired condition, and is described particularly in connection with the control of a boiler furnace altho the invention may be applied in other systems where there are a plurality of different control members or factors which enter into the obtaining of the desired final result.

An object of the invention is to provide a plurality of actuating devices which will be operated simultaneously to obtain any desired relative position between them at any given point of their movement.

Another object of the invention is the provision of actuating means for a plurality of different members having a likenumber of steps or positions with each step of one connected to a corresponding step in another sothat the actuation will be simultaneous.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pair of simultaneous step-actuating devices in which each of the steps is individually adjustable independent from all of the other steps of the device and independent from the steps connected together in the two actuating devices.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a control for a combustion system wherein the air and fuel are controlled at a series of steps with an arrangement by which the air which is to support the combustion of the fuel is supplied to the fuel in the correct volumetric proportion to produce the maximum percentage of carbon dioxide gas in the flue. v

Another object of the invention is the provision of a control for obtaining the correct volumetric proportion of fuel and air which may be readily and universally adjustable for any number of a multiplicity of different points or relations of the fuel valve and air supply control throughout their range of movements.

Another object of the invention is the provision in such an apparatus of actuation on a step-bystep principle, wherein each of these steps may be separately adjustable for the actuation of either of the factors contributing to the desired result such for instance as both the air control and fuel so that the correct volumetric synchronization for the highest precentage of CO2 gas in the flue is obtainable for each step.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an electric means which may be controlled at any remote point by some device responsive to steam conditions and which will thru circuits connected in parallel actuate a device for the damper and another device for .the fuel valve tocause these to move simultaneously in a relation which will volumetrlcally synchronize the fuel and air supplied thereto so that the highest percentage of CO2 gas may be obtained in the 5 flue for each of the multiplicity of steps throughout the range of operations of both of these control factors. a

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an electric control means which is so arranged that should the current fail the fuel valve will shut off the supply of oil and the damper will permit the maximum flow of gases up the flue.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be morefully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawlng:-

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the general layout of our control and showing fragmentally the movable parts to which it is connected.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of a single field in one of our actuating units.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of switch.

In the control of combustion, it is desirable to so control the fuel which is fed and the air which is supplied thereto for combustion that the correct volumetric proportion of these two be obtained, and it is desirable that the air and fuel be so volumetrically synchronized at all points throughout the range of movements of the oil valve and air control that the greatest per- 5 centage of CO2 gas be obtained in the flue; and in order that this may be practically provided for, we have arranged a multiplicity of steps throughout the range of movements of both the fuel valve and the damper with a means for si- 40.

multaneously moving the fuel valve and damper to corresponding steps in each of the actuating devices and we provide foran adjustment of these different steps throughout a range sufficient so that the desired volumetric synchronization of these two products may be obtained for highest efficiency and we have alsoarranged for the operation of the actuating device sychronously thru electricmeans from a regulator responsive to steam conditions and also movable thru a series of steps corresponding to the steps for the fuel and damper member above mentioned; and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawing, we have shown a fuel valve at In which controls the amount of fuel fed thru the conduit Ill to the combustion chamber I 3 of a boiler furnace. At ii, We have illustrated a fiue pipe which is controlled by a damper l6 for controlling the amount of flue gases up the chimney, which thus controls the vacuum in the fire box and the volume of the intake air into the combustion chamber.

At 20, there is illustrated one type of regulator which will move in response to steam conditions in the boiler in a series of different steps, that shown here being illustrated as ten steps along the notches 2|, which causes the actuation of a rod 22 by reason of hydraulic power thru the cylinder 23. The type of regulator shown being that disclosed in the Kimball Patent No. 1,597,202, August 24, 1926, aitho it will be understood that we may use other regulators which will serve to produce a movement such as produced in the rod 22, which regulators may be of a smaller and less powerful type than at present used by us, the regulators serving only to produce in this invention a movement which will correspond to or be affected by, the steam conditions in the boiler or by some other result which it is desired to obtain by the control of a plurality of factors entering into the obtaining of such desired result.

In order to control the damper, we have provided a unit designated generally 25, consisting of a plurality of electrical coils or fields 26, 21, 28, 29, 30, 3|, 32, 33, 34 and 35 which are arranged coaxially and suitably adjustably supported in a cylinder 36 by means of fingers 31 extending thru a slot 38 in the cylinder and clamped in adjusted position by bolts or other suitable holding means, the details of which are not specifically shown.

These fields may be adjusted. along the cylindrical part 36 to any desired position therein, and thru the center of each of these annular fields there extends a core 39 of non-magnetic material throughout its length except for a short section 40 of magnetic material which is of a length sufficient so that when a field is electrically energized it will draw the magnetic section 40 to a po sition within the particlar magnetic field energized and thus will cause movement of the core 39 inserted thru the coils, as the different coils are energized one after the other, progressively, from one end of the unit to the other.

In the arrangement which we have illustrated, the unit 25 is vertical and the core 39 is connected to a lever 4| which is slotted as at 42 with a pin 43 extending thru it and thru the core 39 and by reason of this vertical arrangement we may provide a weight 44 secured to the end of the core 39 in cases where the core is not sufiiciently heavy to cause it to drop quickly by gravity so that should the energy fail in all of the fields the weight would cause the damper to be moved to open position to permit free passage of gases up the flue.

In order to control the fuel valve I0, we have provided another unit 45 which is similar to the unit 25 just above described, which controls the damper. This unit 45 consists of a series of fields 46, 41, 48, 49, 50, 5|, 52, 53, 54, and 55, each of which is adjustably supported in a cylinder casing 56 having slots 51 therein thru which pins 58 extend to suitably support the field when clamped in adjusted position in the unit. A core 59 extends thru the annular fields, which is of non-magnetic material and is provided with a section 60 of magnetic material so that as any ofthe fields are energized this section of the core will be moved into a position within the center of the field so energized. This core at the upper end is connected to a lever or member 6| having a slot 62 therein with a pin 63 extending thru it and thru the rod 59. This lever is pivoted as at 64 and its opposite end is connected to the lever 61 by an adjustable link 65 having a turn buckle ad- Justment 66 therein which serves to provide a different movement to the valve in for opening and closing the same for the control of the fuel to the combustion chamber.

The fuel valve I0 is closed when the lever arm 61 is in raised position and the damper is opened when the member 4| is in its lowest position. On the end of the core 69, there is a weight 68 which is added to the core in cases where the core is not sufiiciently heavy to drop to close the valve should energy fail to be supplied to any of the fields.

By the arrangement of the fields in this manner we provide in each of the units 25 and 45 a series of steps so that the damper or fuel valve will move to these different predetermined positions and there be maintained. The steps in each of these units will be the same in number, which we have here illustrated as ten and the regulator will also be such that it will have this corresponding number of steps as at 2!, which is also here illustrated as ten in number.

We provide a contact plate 10 having contacts thereon 1|,i2, l3, 14,15,16, Ti, 18, I9 and 60 over which a contact arm 6| may wipe actuated by the member or arm 82 having a slot 83 therein with a pin 84 movable in the slot and connected to the actuating rod 22. The contacts II to 66 will be so closely arranged with reference to the contact arm that the contact arm will engage the contact 12 before it leaves the contact II and will engage the contact 13 before it leaves the contact 12 and so on, whereby there will never be any interruption in energy supplied to some one of the fields of each of the units.

The fields 26 and 55 are connected in parallel thru a suitable circuit comprising line which is connected to the contact H by a lead 9| there being a common ground return 92 leading to the source of energy, not shown, and from this source of energy back to the contact arm 8| thru the line 93, this latter serving as a part of each of the circuits to be hereinafter designated. The field 21 is connected to the field 54 thru the line 94 also connected to a contact 13 thru the lead 95 and so on, each of the fields in one unit is connected to a corresponding field in the opposite unit in the inverse order, in order to obtain the corresponding relation desired between the fuel and air supplies.

In setting our control we will provide energy to one of the fields, say for instance the fuel valve unit, to hold this valve in a certain desired position and maintain a predetermined flow of fuel to the combustion chamber. For instance, if the field 46 were set to supply the maximum amount of fuel to the combustion chamber, we will then adjust the field 35 to the proper position in the cylinder 36 so that with a C02 indicator the maximum amount of CO2 will be obtained in the fiue whereupon this field will be clamped in position and the setting of fields 35 and 46 will be fixed. We will then energize the field 41 to pull down the core 59 and supply a lesser amount of oil and then set the field 34 so that with this lesser amount of oil the maximum CO2 percentage will be obtained in the flue after which the coil 3 will be clamped in position, all of which takes place without affecting the adjustments of the previous fields set. We will then carry forwardly this operation of setting each of the fields so that the maximum CO2 percentage is obtained in the fiue for each step or position whereupon we will have a relation for each of the steps throughout the range of operations of each of the control factors of air and fuel as to obtain the greatest efliciency.

With an arrangement of this character, it is not necessary that we have a straight line fuel valve acting to produce equal increments of fuel at each step action of the range of operations as the variations in the positions of each of the fields 46 to 55 inclusive will permit us to obtain equal fiow by different steps of manipulation of the valve so that any type of valve may be used.

We prefer, however, to use a straight line fiow and more evenly distribute the fields in the unit 45; also by this arrangement the fields and their adjustments we may compensate for any varying factors due to the swinging of the arms of the valves about a curved line rather than a straight path of movement. This also holds true for the damper. We may also provide adjustable contacts II to inclusive so that any variations due to the swinging of the arm 8| may be compensated for by the adjustment of these contacts so as to have the contact member 10 conform to the straight line movement of the rod 22. We may have as an alternative a series of straight line contacts illustrated in Fig. 3, at I00, and provide a wiper llll on the rod 22 to move over these contacts, whereby the direct straight line relation in movement is obtained. By this arrangement of adjustments we may compensate for irregularities in the swinging parts where it is desired that the swinging parts he used rather than straight line motion. We may also arrange for equal fiows of fuel or air, or various flows of fuel and air to be compensated for that the desired volumetric synchronization of the fuel and air may be obtained.

As above pointed out, the units 25 and 45 may be employed for controlling two other cooperating factors to produce the desired result, the same being actuated by means of some device responsive to the conditions of the desired result, such as the steam conditions here used for illustration.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to whichthe device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Control means for two differently movable cooperating factors to bring about a desired result, comprising means movable in response to conditions desired, movable means operating one factor effecting the conditions desired, movable means operating another factor effecting the conditions desired, separate electrical controls operable in different steps for each of said factor means, and means operated in a corresponding number of steps and operated by the first said movable means for simultaneously operating said electrical step controls, each of said steps being individually adjustable independently of the other steps for obtaining the desired factor ratio.

field in each means being individually adjustable to vary the relative positions of said movable members.

3. Control means for two diiferent cooperating factors, comprising a first movable member and a second movable member, separate means for moving each of said members, each means comprising a plurality of coaxial electrical fields and a common core extending thru said fields and having a section adapted to be moved to within the excited field, each field in one moving means being connected in parallel with a field in the other moving means and in inverted relation whereby said members are moved simultaneously through different amounts of movement to desired relative positions, each core'being provided with means to effect a movement of the core to one extreme position of its range of movements upon failure of electrical energy in the electrical fields.

4. Combustion control means for a boiler furnace, comprising a regulator capable of moving step by step in response to steam conditions, a fuel feed valve and a damper, electrically operated means capable of moving incorresponding steps'for moving said valve and damper, said means being connected to the regulator, each of a and a damper, electrically operated means for moving said valve and damper including means for simultaneously efiecting any desired relative positions of said valve and damper according to a predetermined setting, said last named means being connected to said regulator, and means to open said damper and close said valve upon failure of energyin said electrical means.

6. Combustion control means for a boiler furnace, comprising a step action regulator capable of moving in response to steam conditions, a contact arm movable by said regulator, a plurality of contacts in position to be engaged by said arm at each step action of the regulator, a damper and a fuel feed valve, means for moving said damper, andmeans for moving said valve, each means comprising a plurality of coaxial electrical fields, a common core for said fields having a section adapted to be moved within the field energized and a plurality of circuits, each circuit connecting in parallel one of said contacts and one of the fields of said damper and valve moving means.

'7. Combustion control means for a boiler furnace, comprising a step action regulator capable of moving in response to steam conditions, a contact arm movable by said regulator, a plurality of contacts in position to be engaged by said arm at each step action of the regulator, a damper and a fuel feed valve, means for moving said damper, means for moving said valve, each means comprising a plurality of coaxial electrical fields, a common core for said fields having a section adapted to be moved within'the field energized and a plurality of circuits, each circuit connecting in parallel one of said contacts and one of the fields of said damper and valve moving means, and means for adiusting each of said coaxial fields independently oi the other fields.

8. Combustion control means for a boiler furnace, comprising a step action regulator capable of moving in response to steam conditions, a contact arm movable by said regulator, a plurality of contacts in position to be engaged by said arm at each step action of the regulator, a damper and a fuel feed valve, means for moving said damper, and means for moving said valve, each means comprising a plurality of coaxial electrical fields, a common core for said fields having a section adapted to be moved within the field energized and a plurality of circuits, each circuit connecting in parallel one of said contacts and one of the fields of said damper and valve moving means, each of said cores being provided with means to eflect a movement of the valve and damper to one extreme of its movement upon failure of said current.

9. Combustion control means for a boiler furnace, comprising a step action regulator capableof moving in response to steam conditions, a contact arm movable by said regulator, a plurality of contacts in position to be engaged by said arm at each step action of the regulator, a damper anda fuel feed valve, means for moving said damper, means for moving said valve, each means comprising a plurality of coaxial electrical fields, a common core for said fields having a section adapted to be moved within the field energized and a plurality of circuits, each circuit connecting in parallel one of said contacts and one of the fields of said damper and valve moving means, and means for adjusting each of said coaxial fields independently of the other fields, and each of said contacts also being individually adjustable.

10. Combustion control means for a boiler furnace, comprising a step action regulator capable of moving in response to steam conditions, a contact arm movable by said regulator, a plurality of contacts in position to be engaged by said arm at each step action of the regulator, a damper and a fuel feed valve, means for moving said damper, and means for moving said valve, each means comprising a plurality of coaxial electrical fields, a common core for said fields having a section adapted to be moved within the field energized and a plurality of circuits, each circuit connecting in parallel one of said contacts and one of the fields of said damper and valve moving means, each of said cores being provided with means to effect a movement of the valve to closed position and the damper to open position upon failure of energy in the electrical fields.

DAVID D. JACKSON. ERVING W. TEFFI. 

